"So you dated a vampire?" Jessica asked in disbelief for probably the fifteenth time.
"Yes she dated a vampire, get it in your skull." Leah growled glaring at Jacob who sent a growl at her.
"Wow.. Just um.. Wow."
Bella rubbed her temples as she closed her eyes. It was near time for the bonfire and Jessica's questions just kept coming. "Any more questions?"
"I have plenty of questions." Jessica said nodding.
Paul groaned as he got to his feet. "I'm going to see if the elders need any help setting up." He said slightly shocking the pack at his volunteering, but understood reasoning behind it.
"I think I'll come with you." Jared said getting to his feet as he kissed Kim on the cheek as he saw Seth and Quil getting up as well.
"A lot of your questions will be answered at the bonfire, we should save them for then." Sam said as he watch Emily escape to the kitchen.
"Oh right." Jessica said as she nodded. "Wait! I can not wear this outfit to a bonfire. Bella why don't you go with me to change. I'm sure we could find something decent for you to wear as well." She glanced at Bella's outfit distastefully.
"Jess I really don't think you and I are the same size." Bella told her indicating she was a few inches taller then her friend.
"Oh.. Right." She said as she glanced at Jake. "So my house for a quick change?"
Jake tried to catch Bella's eyes but she was too busy staring at the floor or possibly her shoes. "Um.. Sure." He got to his feet slowly. "I guess we'll meet you guys at the beach then."
888888888888888888888
"What are you thinking of?" Sam asked as he wrapped his arms around Emily as he came up behind her.
"I know she's Jacob's imprint, but…" Emily sighed as she turned and faced Sam. "Not sure I'll get along with her that well."
"I'm more then certain you're not the only one who thinks that. We have no control over imprinting. She'll be more bearable once her feelings for Jacob strengthen."
"I just feel so bad for Bella. I know Embry had imprinted on her but what if he hadn't? She would rarely come over, especially if Jacob and Jessica were here." Emily said leaning her head against his chest. "When I heard I was afraid she'd go back to how she was when 'they' left her."
"Well we don't need to worry about the what-ifs anymore." He said leaning back to look at her face. "She's like you now." He said kissing her softly.
8888888888888888
"Well.. She seems um.. Real chatty." Kim said after Jessica and Jacob took off in the rabbit.
"Mom will love having her around." Leah said as she saw Bella, Kim and Embry look at her. "How often do the guys volunteer to do something then help eat."
Bella chuckled as she stretched her legs and slowly got to her feet. "That's true. I never saw Paul want to leave so quickly. I'm surprised Jared left you at her mercy Kim."
Kim laughed. "Oh don't you worry about that. He'll get it later."
"You guys want to help get the food so we can take it down?" Sam asked as he poked his head into the room.
"Yea yea we're coming." Leah said rolling her eyes as she and Kim went into the kitchen.
Bella moved to help as well but stopped when a warm hand touched her shoulder. She turned to face Embry's warm brown eyes. "Bella.. I know I'm not much. I'm not Jacob, but like you told Jessica. You have a choice. You don't have to choose me."
"I know, but I'm willing to try. I don't want to see you hurt because of me." Bella told him honestly. "We can start out as friends even, work up to something more."
Embry smiled feeling a slight blush work across his face and was thankful for his dark skin. "Yea I'd like that." He rocked back on the heel of his shoes. "We should go help with the food."
Bella smiled. "Don't tell me your hungry already?"
"Fast metabolism." He said walking beside her into the kitchen. He glanced down at her hand near his. He gulped wanting to grab hold of it but she wanted to start as friends.
"Great you're here. Okay Bella you want to grab that box on the table, It has some pies in it. And Embry you can help Sam with the coolers." Emily said taking lead.
Emily glanced as Embry headed outside and grabbed the containers on the stove. "So um.. Is everything okay?"
Bella glanced up and she carefully lifted the box. "Yea I think so at least. I told him I would like to start as friends. You don't think that's dumb do you?"
Emily laughed as she held open the door as they walked out. She smiled at Sam who headed back inside to grab the last cooler and lock up the house. "No I don't think it's dumb. It's perfect. When I came to visit Leah, I was so ready to rip Sam a new one. He had disappeared for over a month when he first phased. Leah was so worried about him and he acted so differently when he came back. They started to date their freshmen year of high school. So I can only imagine how she felt when Sam broke up with her after six years. When he told me how he felt he kind of sprung it on me. I was furious. I refused him and…"
"The bear attack?" Bella asked.
Emily chuckled softly. "Yea the bear attack and things all changed."
"Do you ever regret it?" Bella asked as she stopped.
Emily stopped as well and shook her head. "No, not even for a second. I love Leah with all my heart and I love Sam. Some things are just meant to be. There's someone out there for Leah. And if he ever hurts her he'll be more afraid of me then her pack brothers."
A/N: Not sure if the years Leah and Sam dated were correct, I only know they dated all throughout high school and he is two years older then Bella.